2014 has been such an exciting year for us. In July we celebrated our fifth anniversary and enjoyed a tea party with some of the patients we have treated since we opened in 2009.

July was also the month when HRH The Countess of Wessex visited. We were very proud to show her our lovely hydrotherapy pool and our wonderful gym. We were pleased that the Countess was able to meet some of our patients and to see them receiving treatment.

Earlier in the year we introduced a new class called Aquafit. The first eight people to sign up received training from our very own world-class triathlete Manuela Maxwell. The class is for anybody who wants to improve their general fitness and is also great fun.

The introduction of our new website in the spring has improved the accessibility of information about our services. Our new online booking system has made it a whole lot easier for patients to make or rearrange an appointment.

Research into the benefits of people with high blood pressure exercising in warm water made the national headlines in 2014. The study, which was carried out in Brazil showed the blood pressure of people taking part in the warm water exercises fell to levels that are considered to be normal. We offer a range of classes in our warm hydrotherapy pool for people who want to improve fitness and for people who are not able to exercise on land.

Exercise of a different type made the headlines in September. We were very excited to wave and cheer on the cyclists taking part in the Tour of Britain. We were also on hand should any of them have needed physio’ or hydrotherapy for a cycling related injury!

In October we supported the national Back Care Awareness Week, which was aimed at office workers. Sitting at a desk for long periods of time can cause back and neck problems so we offered office workers a free place on one of our back care classes. We also put together some useful tips and advice and this can still be viewed on our Back Care Week pages.

It is very important to us that staff are up to date with training and that their skills are current. We celebrated our achievements at a certificate presentation in the autumn.

As well as providing our patients with highly skilled staff, we also offer the very best equipment to assist with treatment and recovery. It was thanks to the magnificent fundraising effort of Matt Dellar, who organises the Haslemere Boxing Day run, that we were able to buy a recumbent exercise bike for the gym. The bike places the rider in a laid-back, reclining position making it ideal for rehabilitation.

Finally, our year has ended with us saying farewell to Megan Gillbard and welcome to her replacement Ed Carroll. We have also given a warm welcome to Jenny Deeming who is covering for Karen Ford while she is on maternity leave.

We wish you all a happy and healthy 2015.